Two
days previous to the publication of these two articles below, on June
10th, 1875, which was the 103rd anniversary of
the Burning of the Gaspee, it
is notable that the Providence Daily
Journal also ran a lengthy
retelling of the Gaspee Affair.
The article was written by John Russell Bartlett and is largely based
on his 1861 work, History of the
Destruction of His
Britannic Majesty's
Schooner Gaspee.

Providence
Evening PressSATURDAY EVENING,
JUNE 12, 1876.

THE GASPEE ANNIVERSARY.
---------------------THE AFTERNOON PROGRAMME
---------------------VISIT OF THE FIRST LIGHT INFANTRY.
---------------------RESULT OF THE REGATTA.
---------------------BURNING
OF THE SHIP.
---------------------Splendid Illumination.
---------------------
The PRESS of last evening contained a brief history of the historical
event which was celebrated so successfully on the shores of Mashapaug,
under the auspices of the Ladies' Centennial Committee; and also some
account
of the forenoon exercises on .the grounds.

The spot selected was the grove and open field around the
little
cove
which makes in from the pond just above the ice houses, and a more
charming
location could not be found, in the State. It was generally remarked
that
few people were aware of the existence of so attractive a retreat
within
so short a distance of the centre of the city. Tents were pitched very
much at random about the grounds wherever convenience dictated. The
cafe
tent was situated a short distance from the entrance, and contained
numerous
refreshment tables under the charge of delegates from the different
wards
in the city. In the centre of this tent was a confectionery table,
elaborately
adorned with bunting, Chinese lanterns, flowers, etc. The ladies having
supervision of the tables were relieved every three hours, and fresh
substitutes
were provided. Refreshments were also dispensed at other tents about
the
grounds. The Eighth Ward Committee, Mrs. J. H. Kendrick, chairman, had
charge of the fruit tent, winch was handsomely decorated. The Second
Ward
Committee, Mrs. Caroline Richmond, chairman, managed the ice cream
tent.
This tent was crowded with visitors, and the attendants were busily
engaged
during the day and evening in supplying customers. The Fifth Ward was a
grand affair and was under the management of Mrs. James C. Bucklin,
assisted
by an able corps of young ladies. The table was ornamented with a bower
of wild flowers, and there were also some twenty handsome bouquets
presented
by the pupils of the Point Street Grammar School. Besides, there was a
very pretty lemonade well and a Goddess of Liberty table. At this table
Gaspee souvenirs were sold, and found a large number of purchasers. The
special tables of the Sixth Ward and the Ninth Ward, were managed
respectively
by Mrs. Lewis T. Downs and Mrs. Clifton A. Hall. The candy table was in
charge of the Fourth Ward Committee, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Andrews,
chairman;
the Third Ward Committee, Mrs. Albert G. Durfee, chairman, had charge
of
the goat carriages; the Seventh Ward Committee, Miss Minnie S. Knight,
chairman, had the management of the swings, and the Tenth Ward
Committee,
Mrs. Metcalf, chairman, sent a very large contribution of milk and
cream,
while the ladies from that ward, as, in fact, from all the wards
rendered
efficient assistance in attending the tables, etc. A noticeable and
commendable
feature was the perfect unanimity and zeal with which the ladies
worked,
not deigning to recognize ward lines, or the east and west side of the
river.

The East Greenwich delegation, Mrs. T. W. Chace, chairman, had
a
tent
in the rear of the cafe tent, where young ladies were engaged in
spinning
in the style of one hundred years ago.
East Providence sent a committee of thirty ladies, who rendered
efficient aid at the various tables, besides contributing a large
amount
of edibles. Down by the shore Hiram Maxfield had a clam bake and shore
dinner, and it was a great success, as some seven or eight hundred
experimenters
can testify. The same may be said of the clam chowder managed by the
famous
Boynton of Squantum.
In the grove proper and around in various nooks were swings and
little tables of confectionery for the benefit of the little folks,
whose
pleasure was especially and very successfully consulted in the
arrangements.

THE ATTENDANCE
was not only very large, but quite remarkable for good order. Although
not less than eight or ten thousand persons must have visited the
grounds
during the day, hardly a single case of improper conduct of any sort
was
reported. It was a well-dressed and respectable gathering
and
included a large number of prominent citizens, of both sexes, if one
may
say so. Children were everywhere, and seemed to believe that there
certainly
could not be another day coming. So they played with a zeal which
considered
only the business in hand, no small share of which was to excite the
amazement
of some more or less elderly unmarried persons who sat around in shady
spots and watched their gambols.

THE FIRST LIGHT INFANTRY.
One of the conspicuous features of the day was the parade of the First
Light Infantry. The command left the armory at three o'clock, and moved
up Westminster, High, Winter, Broad and Greenwich streets to the grove.
The line was preceded by Roundsman Wheeler with a platoon of police and
Gilmore's Band of Pawtucket and the Infantry Drum Corps. Col. R. H. I.
Goddard was in command, and was attended by the field and staff
officers.
Company A was commanded by Captain A. J. Kendrick; Company B by Captain
E..F..Annable; Company C by Captain William Frankland and Company D by
Captain E. Draper. The companies were assigned positions in the line in
the order named. The battalion mustered full ranks and made an imposing
appearance. The day was hot and the march long, and when the soldiers
arrived
at the grounds they had a tolerable conception of the weariness of
forced
marches on a warm summer's day. At the grounds the battalion was
received
by the marshals and escorted over a devious route. The thousands of
visitors
who had already arrived were gladdened by the appearance of the troops
and a joyous welcome beamed on the faces of the happy pleasure seekers.
When the march over the undulating grounds was finished the battalion
proceeded
to a large open field on the south. They were the cynosure of all eyes
and their dashing and brilliant uniforms contrasted pleasingly with the
milder-hued raiment of spectators. Various evolutions were executed and
then the ranks were broken and the men were given a respite for an
hour.
Their freedom from the formal restraints of military discipline was
enjoyed
with friends in visiting and inspecting the attractions on the grounds,
and these were sufficiently numerous and interesting in character to
afford
them pleasurable relaxation after the toils of the day. At five o'clock
the assembly was sounded by the drum corps and from the pleasant
retreats
and agreeable companions they rallied for dress parade. The parade took
place in the open field and was witnessed by an immense concourse of
spectators.
Lieutenant Colonel E. B. Bullock, was in command and after the parade
the
battalion went through various company and battalion movements, the
open
field affording excellent facilities for the display of their superior
attainments in battalion movements. After this the battalion was
dismissed
till half past seven o'clock, when the line was formed and the military
returned to the city and were dismissed at the armory. Their
afternoon
experience was pleasant, and not only agreeable for themselves, but the
source of much pleasure to the thousands who spent the day in
celebrating
the event so conspicuously honored by the ladies of Rhode Island.

THE REGATTA.
In connection with the other features of the celebration, the
Narragansett
Boat Club held its annual spring regatta on Mashapaug Pond, and
provided
a programme of three races. A half mile course was laid out, the
starting
stakes being driven into the bed of the pond opposite the ice houses.
Three
sets of stakes were provided, allowing to each boat its own stake boat
at the start and the upper turn, thus reducing the danger of fouls to a
minimum. The first race was fixed for half-past four, and promptly at
that
hour, the judges' boat paddled out to the west stake, and the race for
single scull shells was called. The lake was in beautiful order, and
the
slight breeze from the northeast only served to temper the heat, which
must else have been oppressive. Three contestants appeared for the
first
contest: Messrs. H. 0. Smith, Walter R. Stiness, and H. Gardner,
ranging
from west to east in the order named. There being no current and little
wind, no delay was made in coming into line, and the word "go" was
promptly
given. Stiness had the best of the start and shot to the front on the
second
stroke. Gardner was next and Smith was third, catching the water less
firmly
on the first stroke. All three took a wide sweep to the westward, and
the
steering was bad from the beginning. Halfway up the course, Stiness
became
aware of this serious error, and shifted his course toward the turning
stake, Gardner following and Smith going still widely to the westward.
At the turn, Stiness and Gardner were well together, but Stiness drew
ahead
on the way down, and turned the home stake first, in 8:22.5, followed
by
Gardner in 8:46 and Smith in 8:47. On the second mile Stiness preserved
his lead and came in first in 17:01. He labored under the disadvantage
of rowing in a boat with fixed seat and much too light for him, but won
by a knowledge of the. art of rowing joined to good form and staying
power.
He will be remembered by boating men as pulling a waist oar in the
strong
freshman crew which Brown University sent last year to Saratoga.
Gardner
and Smith made a very pretty fight for the second place and Smith won
by
only three-quarters of a second in 17:16.5 to Gardner's 17:17.25. Both
rowed in sliding seat shells with one lap, the former built by Blakie,
of Cambridge, and the latter by E. Bowler & Co., of this city.

The second race was for single scull wherries, one mile, and
was
entered
by F. Gladding and J. Jones, using the lapstreaks known in the club as
"the sisters." Gladding had the best of the start and held his
advantage
to the close. The steering of both was even worse than their
predecessors,
and they must have rowed considerably more than a mile each. Gladding
won
in 9:25 to Junes' 9.57.5. Both were almost on a level as to style, but
the winner excelled in staying power.

The chief interest of the day centered on the three mile race
for
two
six and one four oared shell. The course being a half-mile, this made
five
turns necessary, and so gave a fair test of the ability of each crew to
handle its boat as well as to pull it. Charles M. Smith, Captain
of the Club, commanded the "Henry T. Cornett," H. Knight, the
"L'Esperance"
and E. F. Tourtellot, the "Arthur F. Dexter," four-oared. Tlie
"Cornett"
being lighter and having sliding seats, allowed the "L'Esperance" 30
seconds,
and the "L'Esperance" allowed 30 seconds to the "Dexter" for the two
extra
oars, thus giving the "Dexter" a lead of a full minute ahead of the
"Cornett."
The boats were started in that order, and each went away on a jump. The
four-oared boat threw a great deal of unnecessary spray and wasted half
its lead by an astonishing detour to the westward. The L'Esperance was
well rowed forward and aft, but the waist men will bear more coaching.
Her course was something better than that of the four-oar, but not so
good
as another year's practice will be likely to make it. The stroke of the
"Cornett" crew, (the representative Narragansett six, by the way,) was
very good. With the exception of the style of No. 3, who depends too
much
on his arms, there was no conspicuous flaw in the work and the
appearance
of the six was generally complimented. Long experience enabled Capt.
Smith
to lay a much better course than the other two boats had taken, and the
race seemed his from the beginning. He was first at the home stake at
the
end of the first mile in 7:03, and also at the end of the second mile
in
15 minutes, the "L'Esperance" being half a minute behind. At the end of
the third mile the "L'Esperance" crossed the line first in 25:41.25,
the
"Cornett" being second in 25:48.5 and the "Dexter" third in 26:59.5

These figures represent tlie time from giving the start to the
first
boat and the deduction of the time allowance leaves for the
"L'Esperance"
the actual time 25:11.25 and "Cornett" 24:48.5. The whole regatta,
therefore,
resulted as by following

THE EVENING CELEBRATION.
Tlie concourse in attendance at the festivities awaited with expectancy
the exercises of the evening. At the conclusion of the dress parade
there
was a rush made for the refreshment tents, and for some time the
attendants
were busily employed in supplying the throng with edibles. The grounds
were brilliantly illuminated with Chinese lanterns and locomotive head
lights, presenting an animated and attractive appearance. Long before
the
hour announced for the burning of the Gaspee the shores on both sides
of
the pond were crowded and accessions to the vast concourse continued to
be made till a late hour, every one being anxious to witness the
cremation.
Soon after eight o'clock colored fires were burned, rockets were sent
up
and altogether a good pyrotechnical display was made.

The Gaspee was run aground about midway in the pond, so that
all had
a good view of the burning. The cremation was under the direction of
Mr.
W. Wightman, and a few minutes before nine o'clock he applied the torch
to the vessel, and

"Lo! from the assembled crowd, Arose a shout
prolonged
and loud,"

while the strains of the band rose high o'er the din and clamor. The
fire
burned slowly, at first, but being fanned by the breeze into a lively
blaze,
it communicated to all parts of the boat. The tar barrels aboard blazed
up furiously, sky rockets shot high in the air, the red and green fires
burned brilliantly, the vast assembly became enthusiastic, and
tumultuous
cheers were echoed along the shores of Mashapaug. Surrounding objects
were
made conspicuous by the illumination, and the scene enabled the
concourse
to form a vivid conception of that other memorable scene, so worthily
commemorated
yesterday by the ladies of our city. Soon the craft was burned to the
water's
edge, and as the ensign of "Perfidious Albion" sank beneath tho waters
when the boat capsized, patriotic cheers uprose from the multitude
lining
both banks of the pond.

The assembly then slowly dispersed, the steam and horse cars
being
heavily
freighted with those returning to their homes after the experience of
the
day.

THE DAY'S SUCCESS..
The festival proved a brilliant success in every respect, and the
ladies
are to be congratulated on the energy, indomitable perseverance and
patriotism
displayed by them in laboring so assiduously as to make the celebration
worthy of the event commemorated. Mrs. Goddard, Chairman of the Women's
Centennial Committee, worked for the success of tho affair with in
defatigable
industry, and to her efforts in planning and supervising the
arrangements
is largely due the gratifying success of the festival. She was ably
assisted
by willing helpers, and all may justly feel proud at the large measure
of success with which their efforts have been rewarded.

The ladies gratefully acknowledge tlic kindness of the city
officials
for the use of flags and causing the flags raising on the city flag
staffs;
to the Worcester Railroad Company for the use of locomotive head lights
for lighting up the grounds; to the Stonington Railroad for running
extra
trains and for placing guards at the crossing to prevent accidents; to
the Highway Department for gratuitous services; to the gentlemen who
kindly
volunteered their services as marshals; to Messrs C. A. Hall, G. M.
Ardoene,
Greene, Eaton, H.A. Joslin, J. Harry Welch, to the Police Department
under
command of Deputy Chief Ayer, and to others who assisted in the
festival.

ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS.
Officer Stackpole was severely hurt in the head by one of the stakes
holding the rope enclosing the grounds. A horse which ran away dashed
against
the rope and pulled up the stake so suddenly that it struck the officer
in the head. He had to be conveyed in a carriage to his home.

Officer Howes was kicked in the ribs and severely hurt by
Deputy
Chief
Ayer's horse, which he was holding. The horse took fright and plunged
and
kicked and broke the bridle. Officer Howes was conveyed home in a
carriage.

A large model of the Gaspee, manufactured in Boston, was
disposed of
on shares at the Fifth Ward table» and was awarded to Mrs.
Charles
E. Carpenter. An unusually large number of souvenirs were sold at this
table during the day.

Mrs. J. C. Bucklin, chairman of the Fifth Ward Committee, was
made
the
recipient of a handsome souvenir by the ladies of the ward. It bore an
appropriate inscription and was withal a pretty testimoial and worthily
bestowed.

In the East Greenwich tent was shown a puzzle made by a
prisoner on
the Gaspee. He had been promised his liberty on condition of his
devising
a puzzle which none on board could solve. It is not known that he
succeeded
in obtaining freedom in this way, but the puzzle seems to be an
ingenious
contrivance.

The flax used to illustrate the operation of spinning in "ye
olden
tyme"
was grown on the farm of Paul Weaver in 1811.

The names of heroes prominent in the revolutionary war were
conspicuously
displayed on shields decorating the several tents.

The arrangements for taking visitors to and from the grove were
excellent.
At an early hour in the forenoon the Elmwood horse cars began to convey
pleasure seekers to the scene, and the trains on the Stonington
railroad
also carried a large number thither, the conveyance from the railroad
station
to the grove being by teams. The crowd of visitors was unusually large,
and sauntered about the grounds finding additional pleasure in each
object
of interest.

"Could a finer day have been asked for than this for the celebration of
the one hundred and third
anniversary of the burning of the British Schooner Gaspee — the
first blow struck for American freedom. Was there ever a nearer perfect
day?"

The grounds of Mashapaug Grove were filled with tents whose flowery
descriptions are too lengthy to be contained here — so impressed was
the news man of the day.

Goat Carriages, swings, and teeters gave the younger patriots full
enjoyment. Herrick's Brigade Band filled the air with music. There was
a famed Clam Bake managed by John Slocum. The Military dress parade
proved quite an attraction to the assemblage; and the afternoon Regatta
passed off smoothly with winners taking silver cup, and bronze or
silver medallions.
.......(Toward the close of the day,
the
news account continues:)
.......The
Destruction of the Gaspee
In the evening the grove was brilliantly lighted with Chinese lanterns
and locomotive head lights, making an ever-changing scene long to be
remembered. Soon after 8 o'clock a signal-rocket called the vast
assemblage to the shores of the pond to witness the event of the day,
the burning of H.R.M. schooner Gaspee. The ill-fated schooner fully
rigged and proudly flying the British flags that had been placed in
position (supposed to have run aground) about half-way between the two
shores of the pond, where thousands of people could easily see all that
was going on. Not only one, but dozens of "long boats" put out from the
shore, only one of which, however, was on business, the rest containing
parties of pleasure, who thus had an excellent opportunity to see.
while enjoying the pleasures of an evening sail. In due time the match
was applied and the long boat left. Now there was enthusiasm of the
in-tensest kind. There were universal shouting and clapping of hands,
though the demonstration was not of the noisy sort. As the flames
spread along the hull and up the rigging the band lent its aid to the
enthusiasm by pouring forth national airs, while sky rockets and other
fireworks helped illuminate the scene. The flames lit up the shores
bringing the multitudes on either side into full view making one wish
he, too, were in a boat, that he might see both sides at once. It was a
sight well worth seeing. When the Union Jack went out in blaze, there
was another outburst of patriotic joy. After burning a quarter of an
hour or so, the masts and rigging fell over the side, nothing was left
but the hull, still burning fiercely, and the crowds began to disperse.
A few moments more, and the 'Gaspee
had again been burned in Rhode Island waters.'